Toughness Tested at the Dwellingup 100
25 October 2011 By POET Mark Maddison
Three teams of Navy riders, two from HMAS Stirling and one from HMAS Collins, competed in the Dwellingup 100 Cross Country (XC) Mountain Bike Competition in Western Australia on September 17.
The Dwellingup 100 is one of the biggest Mountain Bike Races in the West with over 700 competitors, and a gruelling course. The teams were entered into the Forces Challenge Category which is designed to raise money for various charities and promote friendly competition between Police, Fire, Paramedics and the Defence Force. It is a team event, which requires teams of four riders to cover the 40km course and their times are combined to determine their overall team standings.
The RAN teams featured a wide range of ability levels from beginners through to seasoned XC racers, and a broad cross section of ages ranging from a 20 year old Seaman to a 49 year old Lieutenant Commander. Training sessions were conducted in the local areas prior to the race ensuring everyone had the required ability and stamina to take on the challenge. Riding 40km off-road is far more challenging than on road cycling!
The best placed Navy group was Team two, which comprised of PO Mark Maddison (SUBFOR), PO Brent Hunter (FSU), AB Adam Woodward (FSU) and Heath Crawford (HMAS Farncomb). The formidable foursome came home in 3rd place. For Hunter and Woodward this was there first XC race, so it was a good result. PO Maddison made it home first out of the three, in 2 hours and 34 minutes, despite suffering some mechanical problems along the way.
Team one comprised of the least experienced group of riders, but still managed a respectable 5th place finish. LCDR Dave Jane (ANZACSPO) was the oldest team member at 49 years young, and finished well before the cut off. The other three riders were LS Cam Brien (SEFF), LS Duke Newcombe (STSC) and SMN Luke Mitchell (SUBFOR).
Team Collins consisted of LCDR Ken Marr (XO HMAS Collins), LSCKSM Jimmy Brook, ABSTDSM Chris Fleming and SMNCTS James Tainton. This elite bunch set off as a team but did not technically finish as there were several incidents along the way, including one member getting lost. ABSTDSM Fleming’s chain snapped 3 kilometres short of the finish line. But, determined to finish he refused a lift and instead decided to run to the finish line, dragging his bicycle.
Of the Navy contingent, the fastest to finish was LSCKSM Brook who came 30th in the individual standings of the 40km event, with a time of 2 hours and 23 minutes. For a first XC race on a Navy gym bike, the marathon runner did extremely well and has gone out and bought his own XC bike.
The day was great fun for all involved and plans are underway to enter a Navy team into the Dusk til Dawn 12 endurance race in November.
blog comments powered by Disqus
